Process and machine for treating moistureproof sheet material



S. BERGSTEIN Sept. 12, 1933.

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR TREATING MOISTUREPROOF SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 22. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 12, 1933. s. BERGSTEIN PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR TREATING MOISTUREPROOF SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 12, 1933. 5 BERGSTElN 1,926,363

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR TREATING MOISTUREPROOF SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 my g M ITTORNEYS.

Sept. 12, 1933. s. BERGSTEIN PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR TREATING MOISTUREPROOF SHEET MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 22, 1930 INVENTOR.

szmuz .4 TTORNEYXS Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR TREATING MOISTUREPROOF SHEET MATERIAL Samuel Bergstein, Cincinnati, Ohio Application April 22, 1930. Serial No. 448,291

9 Claims.

My invention relates to a process and mechanism for treating predetermined areas of the surfaces of translucent moisture-proof sheet material such as cellulose hydrate, which before the treatment are repellant to adhesion to make these predetermined areas susceptible to cementing or gluing.

In the art of container manufacture and the packaging of goods there are commonly used 10 two grades of cellulose hydrate, the first a nonmoisture-proof variety and the second and later variety a moisture-proof material. The use of the latter variety is considerably restricted due to its surface not being receptive to glue or cement. There are some expensive lacquer-like cements which will cause the moisture-proof cellulose hydrate to adhere, but its use is troublesome and not susceptible for continuous machine package manufacture.

It is broadly the object of my invention to treat edge portions, bands or areas of moistureproof cellulose hydrate, and other translucent sheet, material which is non-receptive to ad-- hesion, so that ordinary glues and cements will cause it to adhere as windows to containers or to other treated areas of the same sheet such as is required in the manufacture of bags and coverings for various articles. If moisture-proof material is used for such purposes the cement or glue ordinarily causes the material to pucker,

buckle or warp and thus form an unattractive package. On the other hand with the portions of the moisture-proof sheet material, treated in accordance with my process, so as to make certain areas receptive to ordinary glues or cement,

the tendency to buckle is avoided and a much more attractive appearing, more air-tight, and durable package may be made.

It is an object of my process to treat predetermined areas of a web of moisture proof sheet material, such as cellulose hydrate, while it is being fed from a roll or supply, and to provide means for treating predetermined areas so that they will be receptive to cement whether these 15 areas or spots extend longitudinally of the web or transversely across it, and whether these areas are on the upper or lower surface of the web. In treating a web to form sheets such as may be cemented or glued to openings in coniO tainers it is obvious that bands or spots at both the longitudinal and lateral edges of the material must be rendered receptive to glue or cement. 0n the other hand in treating a moving web to form bags or packages, the under surface 5 of one border must be treated to adhere to the upper surface of the opposite border which is folded over on it in a tubular formation.

It is my object to apply continuously and/or intermittently to predetermined areas of a moving web of the moisture-proof sheet material, particularly cellulose hydrate, a coating or film of a solvent which dissolves off the moisture coating of the material, and thus renders it susceptible to cementing action.

Another object is the provision of a machine and method of rubbing oil the dissolved moisture-proof coating material so that the treated areas will be receptive toa cement or glue'more readily than if this rubbing off treatment was not carried out A still further object, as a new article of manufacture is the provision of a piece of moistureproof sheet material having a glazed surface, such as cellulose hydrate, with treated areas thereof rendered receptive to cement so that the 7 pieces will be available for desired uses in the packaging of goods.

The above objects and other objects to which reference will be made in the ensuing disclosure I accomplish by that treatment hereinafter de- 30 scribed of which I have given several preferred examples.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the preferred method of treating a continuous 35 web of the material for use as windows for containers.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the preferred method of treating a web of the material for use in the manufacture of tubular wrappers and packages.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the take-ofi of the tubular wrapper mechanism.

Figure 4 is a perspective view from the side at the intake end of a machine which I have de veloped for treating a web of the material for the manufacture of windows for containers.

Figure 5 is a perspective view from the delivery end on the opposite side of the machine shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a-detall view of a portion of a treated web showing the zones which I treat for the manufacture of windows.

Referring first to the diagram in Figure 1 I have indicated a supply of moisture-proof cel- 105 lulose hydrate in the roll 1 from which the web 1a is drawn continuously through the machine.

At 2 I have indicated a rubber roller which, it will be noted from the direction arrow, rotates in a reverse direction to the direction of move- 0 ment of the web. The roller 2 holds back against the feed by frictional contact and tends to take up any slack formed in the web. The

roller 3 is an idler roller preferably made of metal which rotates with the movement of the web.

A tank a is indicated which contains a bath of waterproof material solvent. For cellulose hydrate an acetone compound may be used, while for paraflined translucent sheet material a naphtha solvent will be found more desirable. The solvent is applied to predetermined areas of the Web as it moves through the machine.

The roller 5, as will later be noted in considering the machine illustrated in Figure 4, is composed of two narrow felt covered rollers so arranged on a spindle that each edge of the web is engaged by one of the rollers. The cooperating roller 4 may be a solid roller or it may be composed of two rollers spaced as the rollers 5. The roller 5 rotates in a reverse direction to the direction of movement of the web and causes the under surface of the web to be covered with a coating of the solvent along the edges. The supply of the solvent material on the felt rollers 5 is regulated by a wiping or wringer roller 6 adjusted so as to squeeze out the excess solvent material.

After applying the solvent to the longitudinal edges of the web, the web is next passed to a pair of spaced rollers which'apply the solvent transversely of the web. We have shown, for this purpose, a roller '7 having a spring mounted pad 7a, which during rotation in a clockwise direction, presses the web down against a felt covered roller 8, which dips into the solvent bath in the tank a. The felt roller 8 has a wringer roller 9 which bears against it so as to wring out any excess solvent.

Passing from this set of rollers the web next engages a roller 10 having a resiliently mounted felt pad 10w which also rotates in a counterclockwise direction and carries the web down into engagement with the felt covered roller 11. The felt covered roller 11 dips into the-tank containing the solvent and excess solvent material is prevented from being carried up into contact with the moving web by means of a wringer roller 12.

It will be noted that I have provided a pair of sets of rollers for applying solvent transversely of the web. My object in doing this is to make sure that an ample supply of the dissolving fluid is applied to the desired bands transversely of the web. The rollers 10 and 11 are timed so that they will apply the. solvent fluid to the same transverse band as the rollers 7 and 8. The faster the web is pulled through between the rollers, and. the faster the rollers rotate, the shorter will be the space on the web between the successive transverse bands, and inversely the slower the web moves between the rollers, and the slower the rollers move the longer will be the spacing for the top and bottom of the window pieces.

Assuming that the rolls '7, 10 and 13 make 60 R. P. M. and assuming that a length of 10" is desired to be moved for each revolution, the master pull roll is geared to such ratio. In the event that less or more material is required to be drawn through for each revolution of the above named rolls, the gearing ratio is increased or decreased. If this mechanism is connected, for example, to a wrapping machine with a certain given capacity per minute, it would be so synchronized or timed that the rollers would make the same number of revolutions per minute as the capacity of the wrapping machine. If it was desired to either increase the lineal inches of each unit of this material or decrease it, this could be brought about, as explained, by changing the ratio of gears or sprockets or increasing or decreasing the diameter of the pull or draw rolls.

For example, if the rollers are spaced ten inches apart, the speed of the web is 50 ft. per minute, and the peripheral speed of the rollers is 10 in. per second, the bands will be ten inches apart. It now the web is moved at a rate of 100 ft. per minute, it will travel the distance between the rollers in half the time, so that if the peripheral speed of the rollers is increased to 20 in. per second, the bands will only be five inches apart. I

In figure 6 I have indicated a web of waterproof cellulose hydrate in which the longitudinal bands to which the solvent is applied by the rollers 4 and 5, as indicated at c, and in which the transverse bands of solvent applied by the rollers 7 and 8 and subsequently by the rollers 10 and 11 are indicated at d. When the web is subsequently cut into sheets for application as windows to cartons, the web is severed along the dotted line indicated at ee.

As has been noted, after the solvent is applied to the web in desired areas thereof the dissolved coating is wiped off. I have indicated the rollers 13 and 14 which wipe off the dissolved coating from the transverse treated bands. The 'roller 13 has a felt pad 13a resiliently mounted in it which engages the web and causes it to move downward against the cleaning roller 14. The roller 14 may be composed of a number of felt discs clamped together and then the outer surface is smoothed off. In order to thoroughly rub oi the dissolved coating the roller 14 travels at a high rate of speed such as 500 R. P. M., and the rate of travel of the web may be considered for purposes of illustration to be about 50 ft. per minute. I have shown a felt covered roller l5wwhich is so adjusted as to make contact with the periphery of the roller 14, the object of this roller being to clean off the coating material carried away from the web by the high speed roller 14. The roller 15 dips into a tank a which is provided with a bath of some material which cleans off the dissolved coating such as acetone. I have further shown the wringer roller 16 which regulates the amount of acetone carried up on the felt surface of the roller 15.

After having the transverse bands rubbed off, I next rub off the lateral bands and for this purpose I have provided a set of rub-off rollers 17 and 18. The rollers 1'7 and 18, as are best illustrated in Fig. 4, consist of spaced rollers having a similar alignment. as the rollers, 4 and which engage the edge bands of the treated Web, causing the web to engage high speed rollers 18, which are spaced correspondingly as the roller 1'7. The rollers 18 rotate in a counterclockwise direction and rub off the dissolving coating material from the border edges of the web. A felt roller 19, dipping into a bath of acetone, cleans off the accumulation of disthe web is drawn to a desired position for cutting into-strips. I have not shown apparatus for cutting the Web into strips other than the indication in Fig. 6 of a web which is cut into strips along the dotted lines e-e.

' In Fig. 4 I have not illustrated exactly the same combination of rollers as I have shown diagrammatically, the only difference being however, that I have provided a strap 2a to retard the pulling off of the Web from the supply. The function of the retarding device 2a, 2b is exactly the same as that of the rubber roller 2 illustrated in Figure 1, though the rubber roller 2 is found to work somewhat more satisfactorily.

Referring to the front end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 4 I have shown the spaced rollers 4 mounted on a spindle 4a and adjustably mounted in a bearing block 4b. The roller 5 is not. clearly shown but its position will be noted from the axle 5a of the roller 5 which is also adjustably mounted in a journal block 51). The Wringer roller 6 is illustrated as mounted in a journal block 6a which is adjustable into more or less frictional engagement with the roller 6. I have shown rollers '7 and 10 with their felt pads 10 and 10a mounted in adjustable journal blocks 7b, 101), respectively. Therollers 8 and 11 have spindles 8a, 11a which are respectively journaled in journal blocks 80, 11b. I have further shown Wringer rollers 9 and 12 adjustably mounted in journal blocks 9a, 12a. The roller 13 is indicated having the spring mounted pad member 13a which carries the web down into engagement with the rub-off roller 14. I have further shown the side edge rollers 17 which cause the engagement of the web with the high speed clean-off rollers 18.

I have indicated in Fig. 5 a view of the machine from the discharge end in which the rollers 13, 14, 1'7, 18 are clearly indicated. Thus I have shown a series of sprockets 22 and driving chains 23 which may be driven from a master drive chain 24. Since the rub-off rollers 14 and 18 operate at a high rate of speed I have shown an independent drive for these rollers consisting of the motor 25, pulleys 26, and driving belt 27.

While I have illustrated a particular series of interconnecting chains and sprockets for driving the several rollers in clockwise or counterclockwise directions and at certain definite speeds, the particular arrangement of driving mechanism forms no particular part of my invention-as I consider the mechanical hook-up of a machine for carrying out my processes by the substitution of difiegent types of driving meclhanism, well within the realms of mechanical skil In Figures 2 and 3 I have illustrated a diagram of suitable mechanism for treating selected areas of a moving web so that they may be cemented in a tubular formation such as a bag.

While it is a simple matter to provide rollers which press the moving web of cellulose hydrate into contact with a solvent applying roller located underneath the web, it becomes slightly more difiicult to apply a coating and to remove it from selectedareas of both the upper and the film being regulated by the Wringer roller 33, and deposits the film on the under surface of the border edges of the moving web.

Ordinarily the width of the belt 30 will be such as to apply coating to a band of desired Width on the under surface of the web.

A corresponding band of solvent may be ap-' plied by means of the combination of rollers 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, in which the roller 34 is the adjustable roller, the roller 35 carries the felt belt 39 which passes over the idler rollers 36, dipping down into the solvent bath where it passes around the roller 37. A Wringer roller 38 is provided to remove any excess of the coating carried up on the belt. The width of the belt 39 will be suitable for applying solvent to a desired band extending longitudinally along the upper surface of the web.

After having applied the coating I next provide rub-off rollers to remove the excess coating. Thus I have shown the rub-off rollers 40, 41, which rotate counterclockwise and into engagement with which the web is carried by means of the adjustable rollers 42, 43, respectively. The cleaning off of the dissolvedcoating from the high speed rollers 40, 41 is accomplished by felt belts 44, 45, respectively. The belt 44 passes around the large roller 46 and then down intd-the cleaning fluid bath around the idler roller 47. A Wringer roller 48 is also indicated to accomplish its usual function. The belt 45 passes around the roller 49, around idler rollers 50 and down into the bath around the roller 51. Wringer roller v52 removes the excess coating from the belt and carries it back down into the tank. 7

The moving web which I have indicated at b next passes through guide rollers 53, 54. From there the web is conveyed to the cutting or perforating rollers 55, 56. I have shown a cutting knife 57 which perforates the strips into desired lengths for forming tubular wrappers or bags. The strips pass on a carrier belt between the idler rollers 57, 58 and through further idler rollers 59, 60 into a position in which the lines of perforation are severed following which the material is formed into tubular overlapping formations. I have shown the frame 61 of the bag forming machine in which sprocket 62 driven by a chain 63 causes the knock-off arm 64 to fold over the treated piece of material. The formation of the bag from the treated material is then carried out in the usual manner.

The particular folding mechanism illustrated is not complete in detail but since the mechanism for making the tubular wrappers is not in and of itself part of my invention, excepting in the continuous process involved in its incorporation in combination with the other mechanisms described, further detail views and descriptions are not thought to be necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A process for preparing a web of moistureproof sheet material such as cellulose hydrate for receiving adhesive on predetermined areas thereof, which consists in moving the web and applying a solvent to the moisture-proof coating of the material during the movement of the web, and subsequently rubbing off the dissolved coating while the web continues to move, independently of movement of the web.

2. A process for preparing a web of moistureproof sheet material such as cellulose hydrate for use, without buckling, in the packaging of goods, which consists in moving the web and continuously applying a coating of solvent to an edge portion of the web and subsequently continuously rubbing ofi the dissolved coating from the web, independently of movement of the web.

3. A process for preparing a web of moistureproof sheet material such as cellulose hydrate for use, without buckling, in the packaging of goods, which consists in intermittently coating predetermined areas extending transverse the web with a solvent and subsequently rubbing off the dissolved coating.

4. A process for preparing a web of moistureproof sheet material such as cellulose hydrate for use, without buckling, in the manufacture of translucent windows for containers, which consists in moving the web and continuously applying a film of solvent to the edge portions of the web and applying a coating of solvent to spaced areas extending transverse the web and subsequently rubbing off the dissolved coating.

5. A process for preparing a web of moistureproof sheet material such as cellulose hydrate for use, without buckling, in the manufacture of translucent windows for containers, which consists in moving the web and continuously applying a film of solvent to the edge portions of the web and applying a coating of solvent to spaced areas extending transverse the web and subsequently rubbing oh the dissolved coating, and subsequently cutting the web across the transversely cleaned areas.

6. A machine for treating moisture-proof sheet material to provide areas thereof for adhesive attachment having in combination, means to feed a web of the translucent sheet material, means for applying a film of solvent to predetermined areas of the web during its movement, and means operable independently of the moving web and web feeding means to wipe 01f the sari:

solvent treated areas during the subsequent movement of the web.

'7. A machine for treating a web of moistureproof material to provide areas thereof for overlapping adhesion having in combination, means to feed a web of translucent material, means for applying a film of solvent to one surface of one edge of the web, means for applying a solvent to the opposite surface of the opposite edge of the web, means operable independently of the moving web and web feeding means for wiping off the areas to which solvent has been applied on one surface, and means for wiping off the areas to which solvent has been applied to the opposite surface.

8. A machine for treating moving webs of moisture-proof sheet material to provide areas thereof with lateral and transverse areas susceptible to adhesion, having in combination, means to apply solvent to laterally extending bands of the web, means to apply solvent intermittently to transverse areas of the web, means for continuously wiping off the lateral bands to which solvent has been applied, means for wiping. off the transverse bands to which solvent has been applied, and means for forming a container of said wiped web.

9. A machine for treating moving webs of moisture-proof sheet material to provide areas thereof with lateral and transverse areas susceptible to adhesion, having in combination, means to apply solvent to longitudinally extending bands of the web, means to apply solvent intermittently to transverse areas of the web, means for continuously wiping off the lateral bands to which solvent has been applied, and means for wiping off the transverse bands to which solvent has been applied, said means comprising rollers rotating in a direction counter to the direction of movement of the web.

SAMUEL BERGSTEIN. 

